January 2015
Former Cub Scout leader and Sunday school teacher facing jail for sexual abuse of three boys
A former Cub Scout leader is facing jail for sexually abusing three young boys on camping trips over 40 years ago.
Jack Townsley, 86, abused his position of trust to use lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards the youngsters aged between nine and 13-years-old during the early 1970s.
Townsley, who was given the highest accolade in the Scouting Association, drove the boys to remote camping spots around Scotland where he inappropriately touched them.
The sunday school teacher was found guilty on Thursday after a four-day trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
The jury of 10 men and five women took under two hours to come to the majority verdict over the historic sex abuse.
Sheriff William Summers deferred sentence for reports but told the pensioner that he was likely facing jail and placed him on the sex offenders register.
He said: “The jury have found you guilty of three charges all involving historic sex abuse of boys in your care.
“These offences are appalling by any nature but they are even more so given that each of them involved a serious breach of trust.
“It is hard to imagine disposing of these cases other than by the imposition of a custodial sentence.”
Townsley, of Cumbernauld, went on trial on Monday accused of touching young boys on overnight camping trips across Scotland during the 1970s.
His victims were all involved with a Glasgow-based Cub pack.
The court heard Townsley had been in a position of trust with approximately 30,000 children over the course of his Scouting career which spanned four decades.
He earned the Scout Association’s prestigious Silver Wolf Award for “services of the most exceptional character”.
One of Townsley’s alleged victims told the court he had bottled up his feelings over the abuse for decades.
Townsley touched the boy when he was aged between 11 and 13 years old on an overnight fishing trip – unrelated to the Cubs.
He awoke in the middle of the night to find Townsley touching him.
The court heard the victim had never spoken of it to anyone but became angry when Townsley showed up to his father’s funeral several years ago and wanted to shake his hand.
When the Jimmy Saville sex scandal broke in late 2012 the man said realised that something needed to be done before elderly Townsley passed away.
An investigation was launched and officers took down the names of other boys who may have suffered abuse at the hands of the scout master.
This led to the discovery of more incidents involving boys aged between nine and 12 taking place in the early 1970s at various sites around Scotland – including one which took place on a Cub trip in Aberdeenshire.
A charge relating to a fourth alleged incident was found not proven by the jury yesterday.
Townsley denied the allegations. Giving evidence, he said the allegations were “conspiracy”, “collusion”, and a “pack of lies”.
He told police during an initial interview: “This has flabbergasted me but these things never happened. It’s not in my nature.”
Sentence was deferred until next month.
The Scout Association yesterday condemned Townsley’s actions. A spokesman said: “Townsley has not been involved in the Scout Movement since 2001.
“We can confirm that he will never again be allowed to work within the Scout Movement.”
